Zaun's patron deity, Janna, truly existed.
Few people in Zaun believed this, but many in Piltover did.
Because the last time Janna manifested before humanity was over two hundred years ago.
And there were hardly any—no, it would be more accurate to say there were absolutely no families in Zaun that had managed to survive peacefully for over two hundred years.
But for the great houses of Piltover, especially the councilors seated here, this was not an issue at all.
Not to mention that Heimerdinger was sitting right here.
His lifespan was likely longer than the family histories of some of the councilors present; to him, human history textbooks were merely a diary.
"Janna is real," Heimerdinger recalled with a hint of melancholy. "I was there during the canal explosion over two hundred years ago."
"At the time, the excavation of the cross-sea canal had already severely damaged the subterranean rock formations in the construction area."
"So when the explosion occurred, the shockwave completely destroyed the bedrock, causing a massive swath of land south of the River Pilt to collapse and sink during the earthquake—"
"It even sank below sea level, plunging dozens of meters deep."
"Thousands of people were trapped in the collapsed underground, engulfed by raging tides surging from all directions. They could do nothing but struggle in their death throes and pray in despair."
"And then, Janna appeared."
At this point, Heimerdinger finally smiled.
"Janna condensed the air currents into a near-solid wall of wind, blocking the millions of tons of crashing waves."
"Billions of tons of seawater—or rather, the entire ocean—was steadily held back by her gale until all those thousands of people safely escaped from the collapsed depths."
Holding back an ocean with wind, and sustaining it long enough for thousands of people to escape completely.
What kind of terrifying divine power was that?
"Even the Noxian Empire would never wish to anger such a deity," Mel commented with a subtle tone.
The councilor who had fiercely opposed the Windguides earlier now felt a pang of guilt and apprehension as he listened.
"I-It can't be, right? Just because that Levi claims to be Janna's Chosen, h-he really is her Chosen?"
"Who can say for sure?" Mel reminded him. "Do not forget, the element Levi controls is wind."
"And I have briefly investigated his background—a Zaunite, an apprentice, semi-illiterate, having never received any formal education in literature or history. With his background and educational foundation, it is absolutely impossible for him to have written this *A Brief Introduction to Janna Thought*."
"T-This could also be ghostwritten, right?" Cold sweat quietly seeped from the councilor's forehead.
Although he was still objecting, his voice had grown significantly weaker.
After all, one could never be too careful.
"Therefore, we must find a way to clarify this matter, must we not?" Councilor Mel offered a prepared, faint smile.
Then, she took the lead in raising her hand, stating her position to the crowd:
"I propose allocating the Iron Fist Gang's territory to Miss Caitlyn and the Windguide organization, but—"
"The underworld has its rules, and the surface has its laws. Out of consideration for social impact, the Enforcers must not interfere in the conflict between them and the Iron Fist Gang."
"To claim this territory, they must do it themselves."
This had been Caitlyn and the others' original intention from the very beginning.
Mel appeared to have completely agreed to Caitlyn and the Windguides' request.
"That works!" But after a moment of thought, everyone grasped the intent behind Mel's move.
By agreeing to allocate the territory to the Windguides, the two sides would not yet officially tear up their amicable facade.
Letting the Windguides seize the territory from the Iron Fist Gang themselves would allow the Council to use the gang to test the Windguides' true strength.
If the gang leader, Avery, could prove his worth and beat all those Windguides to the ground, the councilors could indirectly verify whether the goddess Janna would truly manifest to protect them.
"I agree." Madam Kiramman only worried about her daughter, not her daughter's friends. She knew that even if the Iron Fist Gang were given ten thousand times the courage, they would never dare to harm Caitlyn.
"I also agree." Heimerdinger concurred. In his view, this was already the best condition he could secure for Viktor.
At the very least, the Piltover Council was not directly hostile toward the Windguides right now.
"Alright, let's first test how much weight this Levi really carries!" Four votes.
"The Iron Fist Gang has reaped so many benefits; it is only right they provide some residual value before they die." Five votes.
"I maintain my original view. Their theories are dangerous but controllable, and they can be utilized." Six votes.
"I feel the same." Seven votes.
Passed unanimously.
The Piltover Council temporarily permitted the existence of the Windguides and agreed to transfer the Iron Fist Gang's territory to the jurisdiction of Caitlyn and the Windguides.
However, the Windguides would need to seize these territories from the hands of the Iron Fist Gang themselves.
This seemed to be a happy ending for everyone.
Thus, the routine meeting concluded successfully, and the councilors bid farewell to Mel one after another as they left their seats.
But Mel was in no rush to leave. She remained leisurely seated at the Council's grand round table, flipping through the pamphlet in her hands with great interest, having already read it several times.
It was not until everyone had completely departed that she waved her hand, signaling her handmaid to step forward.
"Arrange for some personnel to send a few 'gifts' to the Iron Fist Gang."
"My lady? What are you..." the handmaid asked in confusion.
Councilor Mel sighed with a hint of amusement. "Do you truly believe that Iron Fist Avery's meager skills alone could force a mage to reveal his trump cards?"
"If we do not send the Iron Fist Gang some gifts, how can they help us test the Windguides' true strength?"
"I understand," the handmaid caught on quickly.
"Ensure it is done discreetly. Do not leave any loose ends."
"Please rest assured, Lady Mel," the handmaid understood perfectly. "I will never let anyone discover that House Medarda is funding the Iron Fist Gang."
"Very good." Mel nodded in satisfaction.
Then, she returned her gaze to the booklet in her hands, holding *A Brief Introduction to Janna Thought* and reading it carefully.
"My lady?" the handmaid asked curiously. "Are you not returning yet?"
"It is quieter here, perfect for reading. If I go back, there will always be matters bothering me," Mel sighed to the handmaid who had accompanied her for many years, speaking as if chatting with a friend.
As she spoke, she held up the pamphlet and asked the handmaid, "By the way, what do you think of this book?"
"Me?" The handmaid thought for a moment. "I believe it is all the ravings of a madman."
"People are inherently unequal; there are the strong and the weak. The strong are like gods, and the weak are like ants. The strong live, and the weak die."
"The law of the jungle is the rule of nature. How could there possibly be a world where everyone is equal and free?"
Hmm, standard Noxian values.
Mel curled her lips in disappointment but did not offer any criticism.
She merely stroked the small pages in a trance and said to the handmaid,
"I actually think this little pamphlet is written very well. I quite enjoy reading it."
"The Windguides... Hah, truly a captivating organization."
"This..." The handmaid could not quite understand. "But Lady Mel, just a moment ago you were..."
Just a moment ago, she had been planning to secretly send equipment to the Iron Fist Gang to cause trouble for the Windguides.
"That is not a contradiction."
Mel slowly lowered the booklet and sighed with a complex tone,
"Who doesn't love listening to fairy tales?"
"Unfortunately, I have grown up."